Northmen resurgence: Petoskey aims to end long district drought

They've already laid down a solid foundation and they've enjoyed some success, but they're still looking for more.

Coming from where they were just three years ago, that's quite a quick turnaround for the Petoskey girls' basketball team and third-year coach Nelson Greenier.

After seven straight losing seasons, the Northmen and Greenier are guaranteed a winning season in 2007-08 as they have turned the corner, and turned some heads amongst many coaches, fans and critics with their blue-collar, in-your-face style of play.

"We've overcome some adversity this season," said Greenier, who's enjoying his first winning season after going 5-17 last season and 8-15 in his first campaign, 2005. "Some kids have been playing hurt and we're still not 100 percent yet, but we've played well in some big games."

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It started off quite well for the Northmen early, as they won the Petoskey Girls' Basketball Invitational, then rattled off seven straight Big North Conference victories.

"We started the season off 10-0 and that was huge," Greenier said. "To get going early in the right direction was key for us."

During that solid start, Petoskey, which entered the final week of the regular season 14-4 overall, 6-3 in the Big North Conference and an honorable mention in the Associated Press Class B state poll, knocked off conference rivals Traverse City West, Alpena, Cadillac and Gaylord.

They've also earned a key victory over key non-conference opponents such as Charlevoix, ranked No. 10 in Class C, and Cheboygan, a team that's been a thorn in the Northmen's side for the past three years and ended Petoskey's last two seasons in Class B district play.

"Ever since I got here, our motto was believe," Greenier said. "You have to believe in your teammates and your coaches and it's been contagious. We're now seeing what hard work and dedication can do."

The Northmen have seen what good team chemistry can do as well.

With a strong mix of upperclassmen and underclassmen (two freshmen, two sophomores, one junior and five seniors), the Northmen gelled right from the get-go.

"It's a pretty diverse group," Greenier said. "I was a little worried at the beginning of the year about our chemistry and with having two freshmen and sophomores up, but we thought it'd be better to have them start the season with us rather than join us come tournament time.

"Looking back at it now, it was a pretty good move."

That it was.

Freshman forward Kerby Tamm has started every game and is the team's leading scorer, averaging just over 15 points and seven rebounds per game.

Freshman guard Bernadette LeBlanc has also played a key role, starting a number of games and excelling as she's distributing and taking care of the ball like a senior.

"We put a lot of pressure on and we expect a lot out of our younger kids," Greenier said. "They've done a good job of responding all season."

Sophomore guard Caitlin Ludlow, like LeBlanc, has also been counted upon for her strong ball handling skills and her offensive capabilities, while sophomore forward Kristi Ellis is a main contributor off the bench.

"Some of our younger kids are used to winning," Greenier said. "Our freshmen last year finished 12-0 as eighth-graders. They're used to being in a fight and they like to battle."

As do Petoskey's upperclassmen, as senior forward Tori Premo, now in her third year on varsity, is second on the team in scoring at 11 points a game. Premo also averages six rebounds.

Guard Kathy Suter, who sat out the fall, 2006 season after transferring from the Flint area, has been one of the team's top defenders, while guards Lyndsey Koch and Sam Perry have contributed at key times throughout the season with solid perimeter play.

Senior forward Sarah Fink also provides energy and is an offensive threat off the bench, while junior guard Gina Gero brings speed and defensive tenacity to the floor.

"We talked at the beginning of the year about our roles and some roles have changed for some people," Greenier said. "It was tough on some of the girls. They were used to being in a rhythm, but we got banged up a bit and had to change some things around.

"For the most part, they've all adjusted well."

The Northmen - and Greenier - have also adjusted very well to having former Petoskey girls' basketball coach Matt Tamm return to the sidelines as an assistant.

Tamm, who coached for 10 seasons before resigning in 2002, has helped mold the Northmen into one of the area's toughest defensive teams.

"Defensively, he's (Tamm) about as good as it gets," Greenier said. "He brings a lot of energy and pride to the table for us as well as experience."

Tamm, who coached Petoskey's 1999 team to a school-best 24-2 record, said working with Greenier has been very enjoyable.

"It's been working out great," Tamm said. "One of the reasons why I got out of coaching was along with teaching, I felt overwhelmed. Sometimes, I wonder why I got back into it."